BP Boys & Girls Club shows strength in diversity
By Loreen Berlin
Recently, Buena Park City Council member Sunny Park was invited to meet with the youth of the Boys & Girls Club of Buena Park during their after-school snack-time. “The youth are the future of our city,” said Park. “The Boys & Girls Club of Buena Park offers a great platform for the kids to sharpen their leadership skills and learn to be independent thinkers and to make-up the new generation that our community needs. I hope to see our Boys and Girls Club become the most prominent youth service provider in the country.”
After visiting with the youth, Mrs. Park also brought some Korean mothers from the community of Buena Park and neighboring cities to the Club to share the Boys & Girls Club’s programs with them, and to share the Club’s benefits for children.
Program Director Luz Valenzuela-Trout said the Club works in partnership with the City and they are working to expand the Club, making it even more diverse than it already is, by reaching out to other ethnic groups in the City and by inviting members of churches and other organizations to take advantage of the programs the Club offers.
The Club offers sign language, STEAM that is mixed with the learning programs in the summer and helps to supplement learning science in a fun an innovative way.
CEO Todd Trout said that the Boys & Girls Club of Buena Park strives to provide an educational platform for the youth and teens in the community.
“Our homework and tutoring program helps to set a foundation for the daily/weekly focus needed for kids to succeed and our goal is to help build long-term positive habits and assist in positive self-esteem through diverse daily programs.”
Trout continued that Buena Park is a great city and an example of diversity and that not only is the City diversified, but that the staff at the Club is also a great example of the diversity Buena Park represents.
“Nine of our current staff members are former Club members who have grown up at the Club and are now giving back through mentorship and leadership roles,” said Trout. “Many of the members and families we serve consider the Club their ‘Second home’ and Council member Sunny Park and the City of Buena Park continue to be great partners with the Club in so many ways.”
Trout said they are excited to continue providing diverse programs to all of the families in the community as they continue to serve the youth and teens, “In our great City of Buena Park.”
Some of the Summer programs include a Summer Kick-off BBQ; the Aladdin movie, National Corn on the Cobb Day, swimming, a Teen Trip for Junior High age and up, a Club Rodeo, Club Olympics Week, the Club’s Rock Wall events, Video Game event, Teens vs. Staff Basketball, Staff Challenge Day and Teen Night, to name a few, followed y a Closing Ceremony.
The Boys & Girls Club serves K- through -high-school seniors – ages 6 through 18. Club members must be 6 years-of-age to be in the programs.
For information, call 714-522-7259.
